Ngunit sinabi sa kanila ng anghel, “Huwag kayong matakot! Ako’y may dalang magandang balita para sa inyo na magdudulot ng malaking kagalakan sa lahat ng tao.”

Lucas 2:10

Sa unang dinig pa lang ng Christmas songs, may mararamdaman nang paninikip ng dibdib si Carmela. Lalong kukunot ang kanyang noo dahil hahaba ang traffic sa kalye. At wala na namang parking sa mga mall sa dami ng nagsha-shopping. “Komersyalismo!”, ang sigaw ng kanyang diwa.

Pagdating ng -ber months, ang isipan ni Carmela ay magdadalamhati. Nakabakat dito ang hapdi ng childhood niya. As an only child coming from a broken home, she felt it was her responsibility to make her depressed mom happy. Simula ng pagkabata niya, nagse-save siya para maibili ang ina ng pamasko. Pero no matter what she does, kahit anong regalo ang ibalot, anong luto ang ihain, ay nakalugmok pa rin and nanay sa kama. Lalo na kapag Pasko.

Such drudgery prevented Carmela from enjoying Christmas. But this year will be different. Somehow, na-convince siya ni Bernie, ang kanyang Christian friend, na mag-attend ng Christmas party. Napilitan na tuloy siyang bumili ng pang-exchange gift, kahit yung mura lang. Mababait naman ang mga kaibigan ni Bernie. Slowly, she realized she was beginning to enjoy the conversation, the food, the games. Nagulat pa siya that she was showered with gifts and with so much love — from people she hardly knew! She was overwhelmed. She felt she should have bought a more expensive exchange gift, that she should have given everyone a gift! But no one needed her to do anything. Bernie’s friends were just happy to bless her profusely.

“That’s the spirit of Christmas. That Jesus came to join us on earth and gave His own life for you and me. His life is our present. There’s nothing to pay for, nothing to exchange it for, just receive!” sabi ni Bernie. Unti-unting lumambot ang puso ni Carmela. How could she not have known this? A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders. Hindi nakasalalay sa kanya ang kaligayahan ng ibang tao. Only Jesus can bring true joy. Jesus is the gift. She left the party with an intent to read her Bible and a desire to share this good news. Carmela even caught herself humming a popular Christmas song. For a change, gumaan na ang puso niya sa Pasko.